Best data plans for Windows laptops in 2024

Working with a quality 5G Windows laptop usually means you need internet connectivity everywhere you go. The additional feature, delivered via eSIM or physical Nano-SIM, is ideal for frequent travelers, professionals, students, and practically anyone who wants a reliable and secure connection at all times even outside of Wi-Fi range.

Buying a great Windows laptop capable of handling a 5G or 4G LTE connection is only half of the setup. You also need to feed it a data plan, similar to one you'd get for your phone, albeit without the telephone number and call minutes.

Some providers offer local coverage in hundreds of countries, while others add regional and even global coverage. Plans range in duration and data allowance, letting you dial in exactly what you need for your next trip. Some local providers might make it easy to add to your existing plan, and you might even get a discount by doing so.

No matter the reason you're searching out a data plan for your Windows device, we've collected a bunch of the best data plans right here to help you get the perfect setup.

The quick list

Need a data plan for your laptop now? Our quick list might have the info you need to make the right decision. You can always click through any of the options for a more detailed breakdown of each service.

Best data plans for Windows laptops in 2024

With the quick list out of the way, let's dig into more details about these laptop data plans and why they might be ideal for your needs.

Best for travel

Airalo's local, regional, and global eSIM plans make it easy for travelers to get exactly what they need. You can sometimes find more affordable plans from a provider like Saily, but Airalo definitely has the best coverage.

Focusing first on local plans, Airalo offers eSIM data for your laptop in 205 different countries. Plan availability and pricing vary depending on the country, but most usually start with 1GB of data for 7 days as a baseline. 2GB of data for 15 days is another common option, and it appears in most cases that 20GB of data for 30 days is the top option. Many countries have more plans available.

As for regional eSIM plans, Airalo offers coverage in Africa, Caribbean Islands, Latin America, North America, Asia, Europe, and Middle East/North Africa. As with local plans, they start at 1GB of data and climb from there. The biggest data allowance I spotted is for 39 European countries, with 100GB of data available for 180 days.

And finally, global eSIMs cover you in 124 countries. Plans range from 1GB for 7 days up to 20GB for a full year.

5G connectivity is available, though it will depend on the network to which you're connecting. Once you click "Buy Now" on a plan of your choosing, a popup will appear with network information (including 5G support). Support is available around the clock should you run into any problems.

Best value

Saily is a great option for travelers who want to spend less on a data plan for their laptop. While it doesn't have global or regional eSIM plans, it does offer local plans in more than 150 countries. Saily is actually an offshoot of VPN leader Nord Security.

Saily's data plans generally start at 1GB for 7 days, and there are often 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, and 20GB plans available for 30-day durations. There are, unfortunately, no unlimited data plans available through Saily.

It will ultimately come down to which country you're visiting, but I've spotted prices start as low as $1.99 for 1GB of data for 7 days. Many countries seem to sit at $3.99 for 1GB, but you'll often see prices between $20 and $30 for the extended 30GB plans.

Saily has an app for iOS and Android that it will try to get you to use, but for your laptop, you'll want to take the manual approach. You should still receive an activation code that you can plug into Windows to get your eSIM working. It doesn't look like there's any way to tell if you'll be on a 4G LTE or 5G connection until you're actually using the network.

Unlimited travel data

Flexiroam offers local, regional, and global eSIM data plans for your laptop, and unlike some of the other providers great for traveling, there are unlimited data plans available in some countries and regions. If you'd rather go with a fixed plan, Flexiroam is happy to oblige.

There are local eSIM plans available in 114 different countries, with prices starting as low as $3 for 1GB of data over a 7-day period. Flexiroam generally also offers 2GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, and 20GB fixed plans. Unlimited plans are also available in many countries, and it looks like you can get up to 30 days of coverage. Prices vary depending on the country you're visiting.

Regional plans are available for Africa (25 countries), Asia (14 countries), Caribbean Islands (24 countries), Europe (39 countries), Latin America (17 countries), North America (3 countries), and Middle East/North Africa (14 countries). Using Europe as an example, there are fixed plans that range from 1GB for 7 days up to 100GB for 180 days. Unlimited data plans start at 5 days and go up to 30 days. It's worth noting that Flexiroam mentions that unlimited data plans are subject to speed caps after you reach 3GB downloaded per day.

Flexiroam's global plans are not available with unlimited data. Instead, they range from 1GB for 7 days up to 70GB for a full year. The speed of your network (4G LTE or 5G) will depend on the country you're visiting.

Unlimited US data

Verizon's laptop data plans are great for anyone who needs a reliable and more permanent 5G connection within the US. There are two tiers of "unlimited" data plans available, each with soft caps once you hit a certain amount of data used.

The cheaper option is called "Unlimited" and it features 5G/4G LTE connectivity that goes unthrottled until you hit 15GB downloaded. Once you hit the data cap, you can expect speeds to only reach a maximum of 600kbps for the rest of the month.

If you foresee going over the 15GB unthrottled allowance, Verizon also offers a "More Unlimited" plan. You get 30GB of download data before it caps to 600kbps for the rest of the month, and you also get access to 5G Ultra Wideband in supporting areas. Just be sure your 5G laptop also supports Ultra Wideband. Note that Verizon says the data can be used by your laptop to create a hotspot for other devices, but the plans won't work with dedicated hotspot devices.

Existing customers with an Unlimited phone plan through Verizon pay $10 per month for the Unlimited laptop plan or $15 per month for the More Unlimited laptop plan. Those prices double if you're coming in as a fresh customer who wants only a laptop plan.

Best range of plans

Ubigi is another top option for frequent international travelers thanks to its broad selection of plans available across more than 200 countries and 7 regions. It even has global plans with up to 20GB of data per month.

For short stays, you can get fixed, buy-once plans that last anywhere from a day up to 30 days. If you're visiting a country for a longer duration, there are also recurring monthly plans with anywhere from 5GB to 20GB per month.

Topping up your plan with more data is super easy should you need more data than expected, and Ubigi says it offers 5G connectivity in 40 countries (otherwise settling back on 4G LTE). If you move from country to country, you can continue using the same eSIM; just use your Ubigi account to select a new data plan for the next country you plan on visiting.

Ubigi's disclaimer mentions that Canadian customers cannot buy a data plan and use it in their own country. As a Canadian, I'll chalk this up to the draconian telecom laws from which we suffer.

Bulk US data plans

T-Mobile is another reliable network for 5G data if you're using your laptop in the US. Like Verizon, it offers "unlimited" data up to a certain soft cap, at which time it is capped at a lower speed. T-Mobile drops down to just 128kbps (compared to Verizon at 600kbps), but it does come with some other perks to make up for it.

First off, there are more plans from which you can choose, including 2GB, 5GB, 10GB, 30GB, and 50GB of data. If you're an infrequent user, 2GB of data at $10 per month might just be enough. If you use a lot of data, the 50GB plan at $50 per month will no doubt be attractive. Verizon is the more affordable option for mid-range deals up to 30GB, but T-Mobile has the bulk data sector covered.

Another perk is the 5GB data allowance (4G LTE) for use in Canada and Mexico. It's not much, but anyone who makes quick trips across the border should be able to benefit without having to buy a separate plan.

Choosing the best data plan for your Windows laptop

Which eSIM data provider you choose to accompany your 5G laptop will ultimately come down to coverage and bandwidth allowance. While Verizon and T-Mobile are solid options for US customers who want everyday data for life on the go, other providers like Airalo, Saily, Flexiroam, and Ubigi are ideal for frequent professional travelers, students studying abroad, and freelancing backpackers.

I chose Airalo as the top pick for travel thanks to its local, regional, and global eSIM plans. It offers coverage in more than 200 individual countries, and you can get up to 20GB of data over 30 days in many cases. Its global eSIM option includes support in 124 countries.

Saily is a solid option if you're looking for short, affordable terms for quick turnaround trips, while Flexiroam is better for anyone who doesn't want to worry about data limits while they travel. It has local and regional eSIM plans with unlimited data, while global plans are fixed.

How do you set up an eSIM on your laptop?

Most laptop eSIM providers have specific instructions on their website concerning how to set up a connection on your laptop. However, Windows Central Editor Rebecca Spear wrote an in-depth guide on how to set up an eSIM on a laptop with step-by-step instructions and plenty of answered questions.

The gist of the process is that the eSIM provider will provide you with an activation code that you can enter into Windows for a relatively quick and easy setup. Just be sure your laptop has Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) abilities for 5G or 4G LTE connectivity.

Is eSIM better than physical SIM?

An eSIM and a physical SIM card essentially accomplish the same goal. The biggest difference is convenience. Providers can email you an eSIM (which is just a digital SIM card) to use with your laptop, eliminating the need for you to visit a store to pick up a physical card.

Like a laptop with a physical SIM slot, a laptop must also specifically note that it supports eSIM for the digital SIM to work. You can certainly still use a physical SIM with a laptop that has a SIM slot.